Notes: The Brewers assigned RHP Brian Bowles and C Craig Coste to
Triple-A Indianapolis. ... Milwaukee SS Craig Counsell was held out
of workouts Monday due to stiffness in his neck. The problem is not
considered to be serious.


--The Brewers got very little in return for the $21.75 million they
paid injury-prone outfielder Jeffrey Hammonds over the previous
three seasons. Hammonds, now with the Giants, thought the Brewers
were seeking retribution in an exhibition game on March 9.

In the top of the first inning, lefty Chris Capuano came up and in
with a 1-2 pitch. When Hammonds ducked out of the way, he threw his
hands up near his helmet and the fastball struck his right thumb,
breaking it.

Hammonds is expected to be out at least four weeks. And, before
leaving the premises, he went on a fact-finding mission.

During the changeover between innings, Hammonds walked past the
Brewers' dugout on his way out of the stadium. En route, he stopped
for a conversation with manager Ned Yost.

Several Brewers players said Hammonds asked Yost, "Was that on
purpose?"

Yost declined to reveal what was said but adamantly denied the
Brewers were throwing at Hammonds, who was released early last
season after yet another trip to the DL, his main place of residence
with Milwaukee.

"We have absolutely zero reason to throw at Jeffrey Hammonds," said
Yost. "It doesn't make any sense. I can't even come up with a reason
why we'd want to hit Jeffrey Hammonds."

Capuano, who pitched for Arizona last year and has no ax to grind
with Hammonds, also said it was an accident.

"It sucks that he got hurt, but he's got to know with the count 1-2
I'm trying to get [him] out," said Capuano. "If I was going to hit
him, it would be with the first pitch.

"This is spring training. We're trying to work on our command. I
feel badly for him, but I can't let it bother me. I still have to
pitch."

--RHP Mike Crudale, acquired from St. Louis late last season in the
trade for Mike DeJean, made nine strong appearances (2.89 ERA) after
joining the Brewers' bullpen.

Crudale was off to a bad start this spring, however, in trying to
regain a spot in the pen. In his first three appearances covering
two innings, he allowed nine hits and eight runs, mostly against
younger hitters late in games.

"He hasn't torpedoed his chances," manager Ned Yost insisted. "He's
got a little bit of an upper hand because he's got experience and he
was here last year.

"He's on that 'A-list' of guys we're looking at, but it's a big
list."

--Colorado manager Clint Hurdle reflected on Brewers prospect Prince
Fielder after watching him play first base in an exhibition game
against the Rockies.

"I've been watching the kid since he was a little boy," said Hurdle,
who grew up on the South Florida coast. "He lived in Melbourne. This
is like his 27th big-league camp; he's been coming to big-league
camp since he was 4.

"I've had my eye on him for a while because of his dad (former big-
league slugger Cecil Fielder). It's nice to watch, very refreshing."

Hurdle slightly exaggerated the number of camps Fielder has
attended. He doesn't turn 20 until May 18.

--P-PH Brooks Kieschnick showed courage in returning to the mound
last year at the big-league level after years of playing only in the
field. Now, he might have company.

Boston's Dave McCarty, who has been an outfielder and first baseman
for most of his career, is trying to reinvent himself as a
reliever/hitter just as Kieschnick did with the Brewers.

McCarty is planning to call Kieschnick for advice.

"I'd also tell him to remember how hard it is to hit when he's out
there on the mound. I'd also tell him to expect some soreness. When
I first started pitching again, I'd throw one day and need two days
off. I was really sore."

Club officials said they merely were bringing Kolb along slowly as
he tried to perfect a changeup, but the burly right-hander admitted
his arm was a bit tender in the opening weeks of camp.

"The first four or five days kind of got me a little bit," Kolb
admitted. "But I feel better now. We're taking things slow, but I
think that's kind of good because it has helped my changeup."

Kolb, a hard thrower who relied mainly on his 95-98 mph fastball
last year with a few sliders mixed in, is determined to perfect a
changeup to give hitters something different to think about.

"I want there to be some comfort there," he said. "I want to be able
to throw it and feel good about it, not just throw it because I have
to."

The Brewers certainly need Kolb to be ready when the season begins.
After joining the team midway through last season, he emerged as one
of the most reliable closers in the league, converting 21 of 23 save
situations.

With many other bullpen spots up for grabs, the Brewers don't want
to have to worry about who will close games. They're keeping their
fingers crossed because there is no solid Plan B for that vital role.